I see that Three-Peat Rick Perry, longest reigning Governor of Texas, at least since Ma and Pa Ferguson, is now in hot water with a Travis County grand jury. His action in vetoing funds for the Public Integrity Unit of the Travis County District Attorney's Office is the focus of the grand jury investigation.
It seems that Governor Perry was upset with Rosemary Lehmberg, who had been arrested for driving while intoxicated in Austin recently. Ms. Lehmberg is one of the attorneys in the Public Integrity Unit. Perry made a reasonable demand, in my opinion, that Ms. Lehmberg resign her position due to the DWI arrest and subsequent guilty plea. Only recently Ms. Lehmberg escaped a removal hearing by the skin of her teeth. The hearing judge decided that since Ms. Lehmberg had served her time (actually only half, check the Austin American Statesman) and that she was seeking help with her alcohol addiction, she should not be removed from office.
Three-Peat Rick was quite upset by this development and by Ms. Lehmberg's refusal to leave office. Republicans have long contended that Ms. Lehmberg (a Democrat) had prosecuted primarily REPUBLICANS and ignored Democrats who were accused of questionable practices in their official capacity. Governor Perry warned the Travis County DA that if Ms. Lehmberg did not voluntarily resign he would veto that office's state funding. Here you will recall that the Travis County District Attorney's Office handles all cases related to Texas politicians who bear investigation. In fact, Gov. Perry did veto the funding bill, resulting in the Public Integrity Unit being down-sized and operating only on Travis County money.
While Three-Peat Rick indeed exercised his legal veto power, and used his very heavy influence in this matter as well, some felt that his actions amounted to de facto official oppression, as he hindered the prosecution of serious felony cases by plugging the funding to the PIU. Not only was the District Attorney upset, but citizen "watchdog" groups were angered as well. The group, Texans For Public Justice, filed a complaint with a state judge. The judge took the complaint seriously enough to convene a grand jury to look into the matter. I do not know the who's who of all this, meaning who are the Republicans and Democrats involved in the various organizations, but it does seem that this mess could torpedo Gov. Rick's further political ambitions, and could possibly even result in some type of criminal or administrative action against him.
While all of this is in the early stages and no one can know whether this will seriously damage Gov. Perry's political career, or if he will rise from the smoke and ashes a stronger Governor, there is the chance that Rick Perry may be in the sunset of his political career. It is interesting to note that many times when a politician holds the same office for several terms, the scandals begin to creep out in the second or subsequent terms of that office. Best example...Richard "Tricky Dick" Nixon and his second presidential term. Wait, that USED to be the best example. I think now President Obama's second term trumps Nixon's, or even Clinton's, but I digress...
Will Three-Peat Rick survive this latest and most serious threat to his political ambitions? We can only await the decision of the grand jury. Will Three-Peat Rick try to run again for Governor of Texas? Traditionally the Texas Governor has served only two consecutive terms. And it is true that my pet name for Rick Perry, Three-Peat Rick, it somewhat of a misnomer. He has actually only served TWO complete terms, having served a partial term as appointed governor after George Dubbya Bush went to Washington, D.C. But, from what I see, it looks like Rick may try for a third ELECTED term if he does not declare for the United States presidency again. If a third term as governor is indeed legal, the question is will Texicans actually re-elect Three-Peat Rick? The bigger question, though, is will Three-Peat Rick be serving time for official oppression when the next election rolls around? Three-Peat Rick definitely has his troubles in Austin. Que sera...sera.
It seems that Governor Perry was upset with Rosemary Lehmberg, who had been arrested for driving while intoxicated in Austin recently. Ms. Lehmberg is one of the attorneys in the Public Integrity Unit. Perry made a reasonable demand, in my opinion, that Ms. Lehmberg resign her position due to the DWI arrest and subsequent guilty plea. Only recently Ms. Lehmberg escaped a removal hearing by the skin of her teeth. The hearing judge decided that since Ms. Lehmberg had served her time (actually only half, check the Austin American Statesman) and that she was seeking help with her alcohol addiction, she should not be removed from office.
Three-Peat Rick was quite upset by this development and by Ms. Lehmberg's refusal to leave office. Republicans have long contended that Ms. Lehmberg (a Democrat) had prosecuted primarily REPUBLICANS and ignored Democrats who were accused of questionable practices in their official capacity. Governor Perry warned the Travis County DA that if Ms. Lehmberg did not voluntarily resign he would veto that office's state funding. Here you will recall that the Travis County District Attorney's Office handles all cases related to Texas politicians who bear investigation. In fact, Gov. Perry did veto the funding bill, resulting in the Public Integrity Unit being down-sized and operating only on Travis County money.
While Three-Peat Rick indeed exercised his legal veto power, and used his very heavy influence in this matter as well, some felt that his actions amounted to de facto official oppression, as he hindered the prosecution of serious felony cases by plugging the funding to the PIU. Not only was the District Attorney upset, but citizen "watchdog" groups were angered as well. The group, Texans For Public Justice, filed a complaint with a state judge. The judge took the complaint seriously enough to convene a grand jury to look into the matter. I do not know the who's who of all this, meaning who are the Republicans and Democrats involved in the various organizations, but it does seem that this mess could torpedo Gov. Rick's further political ambitions, and could possibly even result in some type of criminal or administrative action against him.
While all of this is in the early stages and no one can know whether this will seriously damage Gov. Perry's political career, or if he will rise from the smoke and ashes a stronger Governor, there is the chance that Rick Perry may be in the sunset of his political career. It is interesting to note that many times when a politician holds the same office for several terms, the scandals begin to creep out in the second or subsequent terms of that office. Best example...Richard "Tricky Dick" Nixon and his second presidential term. Wait, that USED to be the best example. I think now President Obama's second term trumps Nixon's, or even Clinton's, but I digress...
Will Three-Peat Rick survive this latest and most serious threat to his political ambitions? We can only await the decision of the grand jury. Will Three-Peat Rick try to run again for Governor of Texas? Traditionally the Texas Governor has served only two consecutive terms. And it is true that my pet name for Rick Perry, Three-Peat Rick, it somewhat of a misnomer. He has actually only served TWO complete terms, having served a partial term as appointed governor after George Dubbya Bush went to Washington, D.C. But, from what I see, it looks like Rick may try for a third ELECTED term if he does not declare for the United States presidency again. If a third term as governor is indeed legal, the question is will Texicans actually re-elect Three-Peat Rick? The bigger question, though, is will Three-Peat Rick be serving time for official oppression when the next election rolls around? Three-Peat Rick definitely has his troubles in Austin. Que sera...sera.
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